Written Answers Thursday 15 May 2008

Scottish Executive

Alcohol Misuse

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people aged (a) under 15, (b) 15 to 18, (c) 19 to 21 and (d) over 21 were admitted to Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary to be treated for excessive alcohol consumption in (i) 2003-04, (ii) 2004-05, (iii) 2005-06, (iv) 2006-07 and (v) 2007-08.

Shona Robison: Table 1 sets out the number of patients discharged from Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary with an alcohol-related diagnosis between 2003-04 and 2006-07 (the latest year for which information is available), for people aged (a) under 15, (b) 15 to 18, (c) 19 to 21, and (d) over 21. The information is based on date of discharge rather than date of admission because the relevant dataset is a discharge summary record.

  Table 1: The Number of Patients Discharged1 from Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary with an Alcohol-Related Diagnosis2, by Age Group3 2003-04 to 2006-07P

  

 
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07P


 Under 15 Years
 10
 6
 12
 10


 15-18 Years
 23
 16
 21
 17


 19-21 Years
 32
 22
 23
 14


 Over 21 Years
 524
 583
 644
 529



  PProvisional.

  Notes:

  1. Excludes mental illness hospitals, psychiatric units and maternity hospitals and transfers.

  2. Alcohol related conditions are defined by using the World Health Organization's International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision (ICD10): Alcohol-related conditions: F10, R780, Y90, Y91, Z637, Z811, Z864, Z714, Z502, T506, Y573, T510, T519, X45, X65, Y15, O354, Q860, P043, Z721, Z133, G621, G721, K860, I426, K70, K292, G312 & E52.

  3. Age on admission.

  Additional Notes:

  1. A patient is defined as having excess alcohol consumption if their diagnosis contained an alcohol-related condition.

  2. Information on discharges from acute non-obstetric, non-psychiatric hospitals is available from the Scottish morbidity record, SMR01.

  3. Table 1 excludes transfers. For the definition of transfers, please see the ISD Data Dictionary at:

  http://www.datadictionaryadmin.scot.nhs.uk/isddd/ISD_DT_TOP_Content.jsp?pContentID=1817&p_applic= CCC&p_service=Content.show&.

  4. Information is based on date of discharge (rather than date of admission) because the SMR01 dataset is a discharge summary record.

  5. Caution is necessary when interpreting these figures. The recording of alcohol misuse may vary from hospital to hospital. Where alcohol misuse is suspected but unconfirmed it may not be recorded by the hospital.

  6. Figures in the table only relate to those individuals who are treated as in-patients. They do not include individuals managed as out-patients.

Autism

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what initiatives it supports to develop managed clinical networks for autism.

Shona Robison: Better Health, Better Care sets out the Scottish Government’s commitment to the continued development of managed clinical networks and managed care networks where it is considered that such an approach will bring tangible benefits, particularly for those for whom the service in question is provided.

Autism

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to extend the range of initiatives it supports to develop managed clinical networks for autism.

Shona Robison: Proposals for the development of managed clinical networks (MCNs) for autism spectrum disorder should be considered by NHS boards and their planning partners in the first instance. Guidance on strengthening the role of MCNs has been issued, which indicates the support of the appropriate planning body must be sought at the earliest possible stage, so that the development of the network can be fully integrated into relevant planning arrangements from the start.

Autism

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what groups providing services for autism it funds.

Shona Robison: The majority of services for people on the autism spectrum are provided through local authorities or health boards. The Scottish Government does however directly fund a number of national voluntary organisations, including those involved in the provision of services for people with autism spectrum disorder.

Autism

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to make available pump-priming funding for clinical networks for autism.

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to encourage local partners to develop bids for pump-priming funding for clinical networks for autism.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government would be prepared to consider the possibility of pump-priming funding for clinical networks for autism spectrum disorder, provided the development of such a network had the support of the appropriate planning body, and a clear commitment from that body to the longer term support of the network.

  It is for health care professionals who provide the service and relevant voluntary sector organisations to bid for available funding.

Bees

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether funded research is taking place into the reasons for the significant losses of honey bees suffered by Scottish beekeepers, particularly in the last 12 months.

Michael Russell: No research is being carried out at present.

  Where beekeepers have suffered larger than normal post winter losses, in the vast majority of cases the loss was due to poor husbandry or varroa management or other bee diseases or pathogens.

  In the small number of cases where the loss could not be explained beekeepers have been invited to send samples to SASA (Scottish Agricultural Science Agency) for diagnostic analysis.

Buildings

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the level of demand for funding through Historic Scotland for the restoration of active churches was in (a) 2006-07 and (b) 2007-08.

Linda Fabiani: The value of applications for funding received by Historic Scotland under the Repair Grants for Places of Worship Scheme for 2006-07 and 2007-08 was £2,226,452 and £2,660,761 respectively.

Buildings

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review and simplify the process for applying for funding for the restoration of active churches.

Linda Fabiani: The Repair Grants for Places of Worship Scheme is run by Historic Scotland in collaboration with the Heritage Lottery Fund. The scheme was reviewed recently and an online application form is currently under development and will be available shortly.

Child Welfare

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that any truth and reconciliation process for dealing with the legacy of historic child abuse in Scotland should involve hearings about cases of abuse that have been previously been subject to the time bar and whether victims should be entitled to support in meeting the costs of legal representation at such hearings.

Adam Ingram: I put forward the proposal to consider introducing a truth and reconciliation approach in a statement to parliament on 7 February 2008. Public consultation will take place on this during the summer and will inform decisions in relation to time bar and legal representation.

Class Sizes

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how classroom assistants will play a role in reducing class sizes.

Maureen Watt: We highly value the work undertaken by classroom assistants. However, they are not substitutes for teachers and cannot therefore play a role in reducing class sizes.

Early Years

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give priority to a play and communications strategy within its programme for government.

Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government is committed to play and is supporting play through a range of policies. We are committed to developing a strategic approach to play and the first step in doing so will be through the Early Years Framework, due for publication in the autumn.

  However, we are not limiting our approach to play to the early years and will consider whether further work is required once the Early Years Framework is complete.

Economy

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what effect it considers that global economic circumstances will have on the financial services industry in Scotland.

Jim Mather: As with any other modern, open economy, Scotland is not immune from global economic developments, such as the current turbulence in financial markets. The adverse developments in international financial markets will doubtless impact Scotland as they will in the rest of the UK and elsewhere. However, we are confident that the sector in Scotland is internationally competitive and can respond to these challenges.

Economy

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether discussions with COSLA on the transfer of responsibility for local regeneration projects from enterprise agencies have been concluded.

Jim Mather: Agreement has been reached on the key elements of the transfer however there are continuing discussions around some of the detail of that transfer.

Economy

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with stakeholders regarding the regeneration of the Ayrshire economy.

Jim Mather: I met with a wide cross section of Ayrshire public and private sector stakeholders on 14 January this year to discuss the opportunities for the area’s economy.

  In addition, Scottish Enterprise continues to engage with partners and stakeholders in relation to a range of projects across Ayrshire.

Education

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children for whom English is not their first language are enrolled in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools, broken down by local authority area.

Maureen Watt: The following table gives the number of children with English as an additional language in Scottish publicly funded schools, who are not fluent in English, by local authority and split into primary and secondary, as at September 2007:

  Pupils with English as an Additional Language, 2007

  

 
 Primary
 Secondary


 Aberdeen City
 806
 375


 Aberdeenshire
 284
 159


 Angus
 83
 17


 Argyll and Bute
 44
 22


 Clackmannanshire
 46
 17


 Dumfries and Galloway
 109
 70


 Dundee City
 365
 125


 East Ayrshire
 32
 9


 East Dunbartonshire
 146
 107


 East Lothian
 58
 46


 East Renfrewshire
 392
 157


 Edinburgh City
 1,557
 654


 Eilean Siar
 21
 11


 Falkirk
 195
 103


 Fife
 301
 131


 Glasgow City
 4,163
 2,202


 Highland
 236
 136


 Inverclyde
 18
 8


 Midlothian
 55
 27


 Moray
 105
 80


 North Ayrshire
 56
 9


 North Lanarkshire
 408
 85


 Orkney Islands
 7
 4


 Perth and Kinross
 172
 68


 Renfrewshire
 88
 24


 Scottish Borders
 111
 60


 Shetland Islands
 15
 6


 South Ayrshire
 39
 24


 South Lanarkshire
 227
 64


 Stirling
 83
 23


 West Dunbartonshire
 47
 30


 West Lothian
 188
 101


 All Local Authorities
 10,457
 4,954



  Note: Special school pupils included in primary figure if under 12 years old; included in secondary figure if aged 12 or older.

Enterprise

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings ministers have had with the Institute of Asian Professionals; when those meetings were, and who attended.

Jim Mather: There have been two meetings to date between Scottish ministers and representatives of the Institute of Asian Professionals.

  On 20 February 2008, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing met Mr Amjid Akram, Chief Executive of the Institute of Asian Professionals, together with Mr Kaiser Khan and Mr Urfan Moghul.

  On 29 April 2008, the Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism met Mr Amjid Akram, Mr Kaiser Khan, Mr Urfan Moghul, Mr Saftar Sarwar and Mr Shafqat Ali.

Environment

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-3192 by John Swinney on 4 September 2007, when it will publish the results of the research project into the potential release of CO 2 from peat as a consequence of major construction projects.

John Swinney: The research project is very near completion and the final report will be published on the Scottish Government website in June 2008.

Ferry Services

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the current tender contract with Caledonian MacBrayne allows for the increased cost of fuel.

Stewart Stevenson: The contract between the Scottish ministers and CalMac Ferries Ltd for the operation of the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services sets out the procedures for dealing with variations in fuel costs. Under the terms of clause 4.8 of the contract, an annual budget is agreed based on estimated fuel prices and the volume of fuel required to operate the services. If the price of fuel increases beyond the budgeted price set, then the Scottish Government will cover the cost of the difference by making a supplementary payment of grant. If the volume of fuel required increases beyond the budgeted volume set, then the operator bears the risk of any increase. A copy of the contract is available on the Scottish Government website at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Transport/ferries-ports-canals/14342/Contract.

Ferry Services

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what policy advice it has provided to Caledonian MacBrayne in respect of the use of low emission fuel, in light of the forthcoming climate change bill.

Stewart Stevenson: To date the Scottish Government has not provided any specific policy advice to Calmac Ferries Ltd in respect of the use of low emission fuel, in light of the forthcoming Climate Change Bill. We will consider that issue as part of our overall response to the recent public consultation on proposals for a Scottish Climate Change Bill.

  However, under the terms of the contract between Scottish ministers and Calmac Ferries Ltd, the ferry company is expected to comply with all relevant legislation relating to fuel emissions and to demonstrate good environmental practices. The ferry company will therefore be required to comply with the relevant provisions contained in any subsequent Scottish Climate Change Act.

Flooding

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on its Inquiry Reporter giving approval to develop in an area designated as being at high risk of flooding despite objections by the local authority and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on its Inquiry Reporter permitting development on land that is already artificial landfill on the coast of the River Forth and in an area designated by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency as being at high risk of flooding.

Michael Russell: Once a reporter, appointed by Scottish ministers, from the Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals has issued a decision on an appeal the decision is final and neither the reporter nor Scottish ministers have any further jurisdiction on the matter. You will appreciate that it is not therefore possible to comment on the merits of an appeal other than to say that a reporter’s decision is based on the evidence before him or her.

Flooding

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what policy it has developed to ensure that support schemes are simple and responsive in order to ensure immediate action to protect life and limb in any flooding emergency.

Michael Russell: Contingency planning is primarily a matter for local responders, as defined under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004.

  After the flooding in parts of England during the summer of 2007, the Minister for Environment wrote out to each of the eight regional strategic co-ordinating group (SCG) asking for confirmation that they were adequately prepared to respond to similar events, should they occur in Scotland. All SCGs indicated they had assessed the flooding risk in their area, and had undertaken planning for such eventualities.

  As part of this planning, SCGs and responders will be expected to consider the needs of their local population and put in place appropriate support structures.

Fuel Costs

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it recognises the impacts that high fuel costs are having on rural economies and what measures it is taking to ensure the viability and longevity of rural economies in the south of Scotland.

Michael Russell: We are concerned about the impact of fuel costs on both rural communities and businesses such as the road haulage industry, where fuel represents a significant cost burden. We also recognise that there is greater reliance on private car transport in rural than in urban Scotland. Adapting to higher fuel prices will therefore present particular challenges in rural areas, in respect of both public and private transport.

  Scottish Enterprise and the relevant local authorities contribute to the promotion of economic development in the south of Scotland. The area is also well placed to draw on the £1.6 billion which we have made available under the Scotland Rural Development Programme 2007-13.

Further Education

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding is being provided by the Scottish Funding Council for the redevelopment of Jewel and Esk College.

Fiona Hyslop: The college has received a grant of £24.3 million towards the cost of its estate redevelopment.

Further Education

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what conditions apply to funding provided by the Scottish Funding Council for the redevelopment of Jewel and Esk College and whether any new conditions have been applied retrospectively since grant support was agreed.

Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Funding Council made a formal offer of grant to the college in a letter dated 9 February 2007 which also set out the conditions which applied to the grant. I have asked the Acting Chief Executive of the Funding Council to provide the member with a copy of that letter. I am informed that there have been no new conditions of grant which have been retrospectively applied.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how the Keep Well project, piloted by NHS Lanarkshire, will be extended to the rest of Scotland.

Shona Robison: The Keep Well programme has begun health checks in deprived communities within the Lanarkshire, Lothian, Tayside and Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS board areas. Further checks have will shortly begin in deprived communities in Fife, Ayrshire and Arran, Grampian and additional areas of Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS board areas.

  A further programme Well North, similar to Keep Well but focused on addressing poor health among people most at risk in remote and rural Scotland, will begin shortly in Grampian, Highland, Orkney, Shetland and Western Isles board areas.

  The best practice identified by Keep Well and Well North is being disseminated widely in order to shape future anticipatory care approaches across Scotland.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what incentives are given to GP practices to run clinics to address child and adult obesity.

Shona Robison: GP practices are paid through the quality outcomes framework for compiling and maintaining a register of adult patients with a BMI of 30 or more. Treating obesity is part of the management of other conditions such as CHD, diabetes and hypertension.

  A specialist enhanced service for childhood obesity is provided in the Scottish Enhanced Services Programme for primary and community care.

  Participating GP practices in "Keep Well" in Lothian, Lanarkshire and Tayside have also signed up to the Counterweight Programme. This programme has been designed to manage obesity in adults in a primary care setting. Counterweight will be extended to Fife, Grampian and Ayrshire and Arran in April 2008 with talks on-going for the programme to go Scotland-wide later this year.

Higher Education

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of teaching staff in higher education are employed on term-time only contracts.

Fiona Hyslop: This information is not held centrally. However, data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency show that, for academic year 2005-06, 20% of teaching staff at Scottish higher education institutions were employed on a fixed-term basis.

Justice

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what projects benefited in 2007-08 from the seizure of assets under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

Kenny MacAskill: Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 monies have part funded the Bank of Scotland Midnight League, which took place over the winter months in 2007-08 with the finals held across the country during May. Most of the activities that we have announced under CashBack for Communities will take place in 2008-09 onwards.

Justice

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases were brought before Edinburgh Sheriff Court in the week beginning 21 April 2008 on the basis of bail undertakings and, of these, how many cases were (a) not called and (b) not proceeded with on the basis of a not guilty plea being accepted, and whether it will provide a breakdown of these cases according to charge type.

Kenny MacAskill: 24 cases were brought before Edinburgh Sheriff Court on 24 April 2008 on the basis of undertakings to appear in court.

  Of these only one case was Not Called with two related charges of theft by shoplifting and assault.

  The following table provides a detailed breakdown of the case outcomes:

  

 Outcomes
 Count


 Initiating Warrant Issued
 6


 Trial Fixed
 10


 Plea of Guilty and Disposal with Fine etc.
 1


 Petition for Further Examination and Bail
 5


 Plea of Guilty and Adjourned for Reports
 1


 Not Called
 1


 Total
 24

Kinship Care

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-12320 by Adam Ingram on 6 May 2008, what mechanisms are in place to monitor the usage of the specialist information service for kinship carers, given that information on the number of individuals who contacted the service is not held centrally.

Adam Ingram: Monitoring the usage of the Citizens Advice Scotland specialist service for kinship carers will begin when the service is launched later this year.

Kinship Care

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-12319 by Adam Ingram on 6 May 2008, what estimates it made of the likely take-up of kinship care allowances when calculating funding allocations for local authorities to administer the payments broken down by local authority area.

Adam Ingram: The funding for all commitments included within the concordat, such as the commitment for providing allowances for kinship carers of looked after children, was negotiated and agreed with COSLA in the run-up to SR07.

  The cost of funding all the commitments was included in the overall uplift within the local government finance settlement. This uplift was then allocated to local authorities according to the agreed distribution methodology. It was not allocated by specific service lines.

NHS Finance

James Kelly (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive in which financial years expenditure on the New Southern General Hospital will be made and whether it will provide an annual breakdown of such expenditure by (a) it and (b) NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

Shona Robison: The information requested is as detailed in the following table:

  

Year (£ million)
 2009-10
 2010-11
 2011-12
 2012-13
 2013-14
 2014-15
 2015-16
 Total


 Scottish Executive
 18
 101
 176
 170
 95
 11
 (19)
 552


 NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Capital and Receipts
 10
 40
 50
 55
 48
 48
 19
 270


 Endowments
 
 
 10
 10
 
 
 
 20


 Total
 28
 141
 236
 235
 143
 59
 -
 842

Oil and Gas Industry

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has undertaken, or plans to undertake, into the impact of peak oil in Scotland.

Jim Mather: On a global level, there has been considerable debate about whether peak oil has occurred. It is the case that significant reserves remain in the North Sea and that the Scottish oil and gas industry, which is of enormous economic importance to Scotland, will remain a vital sector of our economy for decades to come.

  However, we are also clear that Scotland needs to make a transition to a low carbon economy, with an energy supply that is diverse and sustainable and which contributes to Scotland's wealth.

  The Scottish Government has not undertaken any specific research into the impact of peak oil, however we keep a close watch on developments in world energy markets, including future oil supplies, which we believe to be secure for the medium term, enabling us to make the transition to a low carbon economy. The Scottish Government continually monitors developments which will impact upon Scotland and these impacts are picked up in our regular reporting of economic developments within the Scottish economy.

Oil and Gas Industry

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government on the impact of peak oil.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has had no specific discussions with the UK Government on the impact of peak oil. However, there is frequent contact with the UK Government on a range of energy matters. From these discussions, we are confident that global oil supplies are likely to be sufficient to meet our demand in the medium term, enabling Scotland to make the transition to a low carbon energy supply.

Ophthalmic Services

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to encourage all NHS boards to publish details of dispensing opticians to ensure that people have access to this information.

Shona Robison: NHS boards do not hold lists of dispensing opticians and therefore do not have the information to publish.

Planning

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-11824 by Stewart Stevenson on 23 April 2008, how many planning applications have been publicly supported by ministers since May 2007; what those planning applications consisted of, and what support was provided.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-11824 on 23 April 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Procurement

Gil Paterson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to monitor the long-term effects of PPP schemes on local authority finances.

John Swinney: It is the responsibility of every public sector procuring body, when entering into a contract, to ensure all payments committed through that contract are affordable over the length of the contract. This applies to all contracts and not just PPP contracts.

Rail Network

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total operating costs of ScotRail have been in each year since 1999, also showing the amounts provided in public subsidy in each year.

Stewart Stevenson: Scottish ministers became responsible for the rail franchise in Scotland on 17 October 2004, and no details are held by Transport Scotland prior to that date. Since then, the net subsidy payments made by Transport Scotland to First ScotRail under the Franchise Agreement have been:

  

 2004-05 (Part Year)
£103.1 million


 2005-06
£201.0 million


 2006-07
£281.5 million


 2007-08
£294.3 million



  First ScotRail provide a detailed breakdown of their operating costs to Transport Scotland under the confidentiality terms of the franchise agreement, and we are not at liberty to disclose these. High-level operating cost information on ScotRail’s operating costs is disclosed within their published annual report and accounts, and this information is available to members through the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

School Meals

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of pupils received free school meals at each local authority secondary school in Glasgow in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Maureen Watt: The full dataset is published on the government website, at the following link:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/SchMeals2007.

Schools

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many new schools ministers have opened or officially visited since May 2007.

Maureen Watt: Scottish ministers have opened eight new schools since May 2007. Ministers visit schools regularly in the course of normal business but records are not kept of the relative age of the buildings at schools visited.

Scottish Futures Trust

James Kelly (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made with the implementation of the Scottish Futures Trust.

John Swinney: We are making good progress with the development of the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) initiative which will deliver major infrastructure projects through more cost-effective means than the standard form of PFI.

  The Cabinet will take a decision regarding the next steps in the development of SFT shortly and an announcement will be made following this.

Smoking

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been allocated to NHS Tayside for smoking cessation services in each year since 2006-07, also expressed in real terms.

Shona Robison: The Government will spend £33 million this spending review period on NHS smoking cessation services in comparison to £27 million spent over the previous spending review period.

  In addition to its share of funding available from NHS boards’ general allocations – around £162,000 per annum – the following table provides information on the specific allocations made to NHS Tayside for smoking cessation services and related tobacco control activity in each year from 2006-07 to 2010-11, also expressed in real terms at 2006-07 prices.

  Decisions will be made shortly about the increased allocations which will be made to NHS boards over the next three years from the additional £3 million per annum which has been earmarked under Spending Review 2007 for tobacco control activity.

  

 Year
Allocation£000
Allocation in Real Termsat 2006-07 Prices £000


 2006-07
 790
 790


 2007-08
 949
 919


 2008-09
 949
 892


 2009-10
 949
 868


 2010-11
 949
 845

Student Finance

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people will be affected by changes to the means test for higher education students from the 2008-09 academic year and how much the Scottish Government will save in total (a) annually and (b) over the next three years.

Fiona Hyslop: The number of people affected by changes to the means test for higher education students is unknown as the information on which this calculation needs to be made was not recorded by the previous Scottish Executive. I have therefore asked SAAS to record this data from 2008-09 onwards and my officials will closely monitor the numbers affected by these changes.

  The changes to the means test are not intended to generate savings. They are intended to bring about a fairer system of student support for all our students. If any savings were to accrue from these changes, however, this money will be redistributed within the general student support system.

Student Finance

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many students will benefit from changes to the eligibility for the young students bursary from the 2008-09 academic year, including those under the age of 25 and with a child over three, and by how much in total.

Fiona Hyslop: It is only those students under the age of 25 and with a child over three who will benefit from changes to the eligibility for the Young Students’ Bursary from the 2008-09 academic year. I refer the member to the question S3W-10207 answered on 3 March 2008 . All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Student Finance

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will outline further details of the £38 million package of grants for part-time learners in higher education, referred to by the First Minister on 24 April 2008 (Official Report, c. 7933), showing (a) over how many years the funding will be provided, (b) the eligibility criteria for the funding, (c) the distribution mechanism used for the funding and (d) how many students will be eligible for the funding

Fiona Hyslop: (a) We will introduce a £500 part-time higher education (HE) grant from academic year 2008-09 for all new and existing students. Budget provision has been made for £12 million/£13 million/£13 million for this over the period of the spending review (£38 million in total). This includes an additional £1 million annually for the institutions’ discretionary funds.

  (b) The eligibility criteria for the funding is that students must:

  be ordinarily resident in Scotland

  be over the age of 16

  earn £18,000 or less or be on benefits

  not be in receipt of a fee waiver from the learning provider

  be studying at 50% or more of a full-time HNC, HND, or

  undergraduate degree (SCQF Level 7-10).

  (c) The part-time HE grant will be delivered through a simplified Individual Learning Account (ILA Scotland) model and the grant will be paid directly to the university or college.

  (d) We expect that this new funding will benefit around 20,000 part-time HE students.

Student Finance

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will outline further details of its increasing the threshold for the non-medical personal helpers element of the disabled students allowance by 60%, referred to by the First Minister on 24 April 2008 ( Official Report , c. 7933), showing how much additional funding will be provided to students through this change and how many students will benefit.

Fiona Hyslop: Further details on the non-medical personal helpers element of the disabled students allowance can be found on SAAS’ website at: http://www.saas.gov.uk/student_support/special_circumstances/dsa_what_we_pay.htm .

  In terms of the increase, the upper threshold for the non-medical personal helpers element of the Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) will from academic year 2008-09 rise from £12,420 to £20,000. In terms of numbers of students who will stand to benefit, last year there were around 39 students who reached the maximum threshold for non-medical personal help. The number of students who will benefit from the increased threshold in 2008-09 will be dependent on their assessed needs when they apply to SAAS for student support.

Student Finance

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the £12 million per annum to alleviate student hardship referred, to by the First Minister on 24 April 2008 ( Official Report , c. 7933), is (a) additional funding and (b) time-limited.

Fiona Hyslop: The £12 million to which the First Minister referred on 24 April are the "Discretionary Funds". These monies are made available by Scottish ministers and are intended to provide non-repayable assistance for students in financial difficulties in order for them to access and/or continue in higher education.This is not an additional package of funding but has been in place for several years. This funding is not time-limited.

Student Finance

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide further details of the (a) £30 million available for 2010-11 to support students further and (b) consultation that is taking place, referred to by the First Minister on 24 April 2008 (Official Report, c. 7933).

Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Budget announced that an additional £30 million is to be invested in 2010-11 and the Scottish Government will consider how best to use this money as part of a consultation paper which will be launched later this year.

Teachers

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many places each local authority has agreed to make available for newly qualified teachers entering the Teaching Induction Scheme in 2008, broken down by (a) primary and (b) secondary sector.

Maureen Watt: The table provides numbers of places offered by Scottish local authorities for the 2008-09 teacher induction scheme. The following table also includes offers made by authorities to accommodate probationers who would be wholly Government funded.

  

 Local Authority
 Primary
Additional Primary Places
(Wholly Government Funded)
 Secondary
Additional Secondary Places
(Wholly Government Funded)


 Aberdeen
 3
 3
 34
 0


 Aberdeenshire
 63
 50
 64
 26


 Angus
 36
 14
 32
 7


 Argyll and Bute
 37
 4
 19
 0


 Clackmannanshire
 14
 20
 12
 15


 Dumfries and Galloway
 66
 10
 38
 13


 Dundee
 37
 9
 43
 9


 East Ayrshire
 30
 15
 33
 12


 East Dunbartonshire
 31
 15
 27
 26


 East Lothian
 40
 10
 46
 23


 East Renfrewshire
 27
 33
 36
 36


 Edinburgh
 80
 60
 80
 32


 Eilean Siar
 8
 2
 13
 2


 Falkirk
 54
 27
 35
 11


 Fife
 111
 42
 113
 30


 Glasgow
 120
 23
 105
 10


 Highland
 59
 10
 63
 10


 Inverclyde
 22
 24
 13
 10


 Midlothian
 30
 11
 36
 11


 Moray
 22
 11
 23
 35


 North Ayrshire
 38
 20
 53
 10


 North Lanarkshire
 101
 47
 104
 25


 Orkney
 9
 2
 7
 6


 Perth and Kinross
 34
 15
 43
 11


 Renfrewshire
 70
 40
 35
 116


 Scottish Borders
 28
 4
 14
 37


 Shetland
 7
 11
 4
 2


 South Ayrshire
 34
 15
 31
 10


 South Lanarkshire
 93
 62
 100
 27


 Stirling
 31
 11
 33
 25


 West Dunbartonshire
 33
 29
 35
 21


 West Lothian
 60
 55
 53
 57


 Totals
 1,428
 704
 1,377
 665

Teachers

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the Teaching Induction Scheme places in August 2008 will require to be funded by Scottish Ministers, showing how these compare with the number and percentage of fully funded places in 2007.

Maureen Watt: It is too early to say how many teaching posts will require to be funded by the Scottish Government for the 2008-09 induction scheme. This will only be determined after the summer when it is known how many students failed to complete their initial teacher education course and how many declined their allocated place on the scheme.

Transport

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much transport expenditure there was in each local authority area in each of the last five years, also expressed on a per capita basis.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-32679 on 29 March 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

  The Scottish Government does not hold records of its own spending split by each local authority area. This is because much of the government’s transport expenditure, for example the ScotRail franchise subsidy, cannot be readily allocated to individual local authority areas. We do however provide information in the annual edition of the Scottish Transport Statistics publication on total expenditure on transport within the Scottish ministers’ responsibility and this information can be found in on page 227, table 1.11 of the 2007 edition of the publication.

  Information on their own transport expenditure is provided by each local authority in the same publication on page 228, table 11.3. The following table shows each local authority’s actual expenditure, for 2005-06, as published in Scottish Transport Statistics, divided by the population figures published by GROS (mid-year for the year in question).

  

 Local Authority
 2005-06


£000
 Population.
 Per Capita


 Aberdeen City 
£17,531
 206,880
£85


 Aberdeenshire
£27,017
 236,260
£114


 Angus
£15,074
 109,320
£138


 Argyll and Bute
£14,745
 91,390
£161


 Clackmannanshire
£3,541
 48,900
£72


 Dumfries and Galloway
£20,466
 148,030
£138


 Dundee City 
£12,132
 142,170
£85


 East Ayrshire
£12,145
 119,290
£102


 East Dunbartonshire 
£12,483
 105,460
£118


 East Lothian 
£6,818
 92,830
£73


 East Renfrewshire 
£11,185
 89,290
£125


 Edinburgh, City of
£22,364
 463,510
£48


 Eilean Siar
£7,428
 26,350
£282


 Falkirk 
£12,049
 149,680
£80


 Fife 
£35,074
 358,930
£98


 Glasgow City 
£52,574
 580,690
£91


 Highland 
£29,490
 215,310
£137


 Inverclyde
£8,104
 81,540
£99


 Midlothian 
£7,756
 79,290
£98


 Moray
£9,779
 86,750
£113


 North Ayrshire
£13,447
 135,490
£99


 North Lanarkshire 
£30,095
 323,780
£93


 Orkney Islands 
£10,879
 19,770
£550


 Perth and Kinross
£14,450
 140,190
£103


 Renfrewshire
£16,275
 169,590
£96


 Scottish Borders
£15,272
 110,240
£139


 Shetland Islands 
£18,584
 21,880
£849


 South Ayrshire
£10,941
 111,670
£98


 South Lanarkshire 
£37,166
 307,670
£121


 Stirling 
£8,064
 87,810
£92


 West Dunbartonshire 
£7,604
 91,240
£83


 West Lothian 
£14,556
 165,700
£88


 Scotland 
£535,088
 5,116,900
£146



  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/12/14120610/0.

  http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/files1/stats/mid-2006-population-estimates-scotland/j852700.htm.

  Note: Population figures extracted from GROS mid-2006 population estimates Scotland. Table 4. Published April 2007 (revised July 2007).

Vaccinations

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to ensure the take-up of the vaccination against tuberculosis by those considered to be at high risk.

Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider reintroducing the tuberculosis screening and immunisation programme.

Shona Robison: The targeted vaccination programme operating offering vaccination to those at the highest risk of tuberculosis (TB) was instituted on the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation in response to the changing nature of the epidemiology of TB in the UK. In Scotland the delivery of this programme has relied on individual NHS boards developing a mechanism for the best local delivery of their vaccination programme based on the existing vaccination infrastructure and the target population. In Glasgow for example the NHS board have opted for a system in which children born to mothers/families at higher risk of TB are offered BCG vaccination at, or shortly after, birth while they are still an in-patient in maternity units. Additionally they use the routine contacts made with children, for example at screening assessments or routine immunisations or once at school at the child’s contact with the school medical and nursing service, to continue the task of offering and administering BCG vaccine.

Vaccinations

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for the reintroduction of an immunisation programme for tuberculosis.

Shona Robison: Although the school-based immunisation programme for tuberculosis (TB) was discontinued in 2005 a targeted risk-based vaccination programme for TB does still operate in Scotland. This change was introduced on the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation in response to the changing nature of the epidemiology of TB in the UK.

Vaccinations

Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are taken to identify those at a higher risk of contracting tuberculosis.

Shona Robison: In Scotland the delivery of the targeted vaccination programme has relied on individual NHS boards developing a mechanism for the best local delivery of their vaccination programme based on the existing vaccination infrastructure and the target population.

  NHS boards will follow the advice in the Department of Health’s Immunisation Against Infectious Disease guidance which sets out those groups of people at increased risk of developing severe disease and/or of exposure to tuberculosis (TB). Such groups would include all infants living in areas of the UK with higher levels of the disease (40 cases per 100,000 people); all infants with a parent or grandparent who was born in a country with high incidence; previously unvaccinated contact cases of respiratory TB, and previously unvaccinated tuberculin-negative new entrants under 16 years of age who were born in or who have lived for a prolonged period in a country with a high incidence.

Vaccinations

Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been vaccinated against tuberculosis in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board.

Shona Robison: This information is not held centrally. NHS boards will be in receipt of information on the total number of vaccines used by age group, but it is difficult to determine the total number of people currently eligible for the BCG vaccination. In the context of the current risk-based programme the types of people most at risk from the disease, and therefore eligible for vaccination, have been identified, but currently there is only limited data available on the number of people within these groups. Therefore data on the number of vaccines administered cannot currently be matched against a denominator figure and cannot be used to provide an accurate indicator of level of uptake.

Voluntary Sector

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth last met representatives of the voluntary sector.

John Swinney: i last met with representatives of the voluntary sector on 24 April during the Lloyds TSB Foundation Annual Forum.

  I meet regularly with representatives of the voluntary sector whilst my officials in the Third Sector Division maintain close contact with the sector.